Biography

Dale Colorado, D.O. is Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He also serves as Program Director for the PM&R Residency and Program Director for the Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Colorado is Chief of Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine and Medical Director for Performing Arts Medicine. He is a team physician for UAB Athletics. Dr. Colorado also serves as Assistant Dean for Student Experience at the Heersink School of Medicine.

Prior to joining UAB, Dr. Colorado was Associate Professor in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. He served as Program Director for the Sports Medicine Fellowship, Associate Program Director for the Interventional Spine Fellowship, Founder/Medical Director for the Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Program, EMG Medical Director, and Co-Director of Ultrasound. He served as a Team Physician for Washington University Athletics, Lindenwood University Athletics, St. Joseph’s Academy, and Francis Howell Central High School. Dr. Colorado also served as a Medical Consultant for the St. Louis Blues.

Dr. Colorado is board certified in PM&R, sports medicine, brain injury medicine, electrodiagnostic medicine, and neuromuscular ultrasound. He is also certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound (RMSK). His clinical interests include the evaluation and non-operative management of all musculoskeletal injuries, with special interests in sports and spine related injuries, therapeutic spine and peripheral joint injections, regenerative medicine treatments, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular ultrasound, electrodiagnostics, adaptive sports, and performing arts medicine.

Dr. Colorado has research interests in the use of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular ultrasound, electrodiagnostics, sports concussion, adaptive sports, performing arts medicine, and regenerative medicine. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, review articles, and book chapters on topics related to sports, spine, and musculoskeletal medicine.

Dr. Colorado received his medical degree and master of public health degree from Des Moines University. He completed his Internal Medicine Internship at the University of Iowa – Des Moines and his PM&R Residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he served as Chief Resident. He then completed a Sports Medicine and Interventional Spine Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Colorado is involved in multiple national organizations and professional societies. He serves as a board examiner and exam content writer for the American Board of PM&R. He is PM&R representative on the Sports Medicine Board Exam Committee. He serves/has served as a committee chair, committee member, or course instructor for the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the American Academy of PM&R, and the Association of Academic Physiatrists. He teaches/lectures regularly at conferences locally and nationally.

Dr. Colorado has received multiple national awards. He received the Parker Palmer Courage to Teach Award from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). He received the Early PM&R Career Award and also the Innovators and Influencers Award from the American Academy of PM&R (AAPMR). He received the Early Career Academician Award from the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP). He was an inaugural recipient of the 20 under 40 Award from the North American Spine Society (NASS). He has been included in the Best Doctors in America® List. He received the President’s Research Initiative Award and also the Golseth Young Investigator Award First Runner Up from the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM).

Education & Training

Medical School: Des Moines University
Internal Medicine Internship: University of Iowa - Des Moines
PM&R Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin
Sports Medicine Fellowship: Washington University in St. Louis

Related Articles: